European Union invites Canada to become an associate member

[Brandon]

Canada may draw closer to the European Union as the EU has proposed a new class of membership status which it is calling an “associate member”

 

if Canada joins, and the category is fully fleshed out in EU law, could we see the EU grow on an international scale?

 

Canada and the EU are expected to flesh out the proposal further around their summit next month in Montréal, October 29–30 (Reuters)

Edited Thursday at 09:16 PM by Brandon

[Parale]

And don't forget Eurovision! Canada is already joining Eurovision for 2027.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

 

Edited Thursday at 10:04 PM by Parale

[Michał]

On 9/18/2026 at 12:03 AM, Parale said:

And don't forget Eurovision! Canada is already joining Eurovision for 2027.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_in_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest

 

I always wondered why Eurovision isn’t mentioned by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

[ChrisC]

I’m imagining the chosen Canadian joining in on the first group hug, “Sorry, excuse me, sorry, sorry, …”

[Brandon]

While I appreciate the humour, I was wondering if anyone thinks the EU could play a role in international affairs that relate to the great tribulation, the fall of Babylon the Great, or other prophecies.

[Shawnster]

4 minutes ago, Brandon said:

While I appreciate the humour, I was wondering if anyone thinks the EU could play a role in international affairs that relate to the great tribulation, the fall of Babylon the Great, or other prophecies.

 

Since the entire world under Satan's power is going to play a role in the great tribulation, then the answer is yes. It's not like some countries are going to not be involved in the destruction of false religion and the final attack on true worship. 

 

Will one country or a group of countries take the lead? Who knows? It's possible some countries might be more eager or zealous than others.  It's also possible they all act with equal effort when that time comes. 

 

The Bible presents the efforts as a united front. The wild beast as a whole (all nations) attack the harlot. All the nations turn against Jehovah. All the kings of the earth are destroyed at Armageddon. 

 

[DLJBSP]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Babylon the Great

 

The fall of Babylon the Great is not simply a political development that Jehovah later uses; it is an act that Jehovah himself brings about through the political powers. Jehovah actually inspires them to carry out his will. Revelation 17:16 says that “the ten horns” and “the wild beast” will turn against the harlot, hate her, devastate her, and burn her with fire. Then verse 17 explains why they act in united fashion: “God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.”

 

So the nations will be the visible agents of Babylon the Great’s destruction, but Jehovah is the One directing the outcome and executing his judgment on false religion. This does not mean the political rulers will consciously be serving Jehovah or understand his purpose. Rather, Jehovah will maneuver matters so that their own decisions and united action fulfill his declared purpose. Revelation 18:4-8 also makes clear that Babylon’s destruction is a righteous judgment from Jehovah.

 

Therefore, it would be reasonable to say that the fall of Babylon the Great is an action inspired and directed by Jehovah, though carried out by the world’s political powers. Revelation does not identify which nation or bloc will take the lead, so it is best not to attach the prophecy specifically to the EU or any current political development.

[Brandon]

I just find it interesting how when a country makes accession to EU member state status, it literally “gives its power” to the EU— meaning, the country fully gives up quite a few rights that a sovereign nation normally has, and gives those up to the EU.

 

The country is then no longer sovereign in many spheres, such as laws, economics, etc.

[Tortuga]

8 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I just find it interesting how when a country makes accession to EU member state status, it literally “gives its power” to the EU— meaning, the country fully gives up quite a few rights that a sovereign nation normally has, and gives those up to the EU.

 

The country is then no longer sovereign in many spheres, such as laws, economics, etc.

Interesting. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come...

[Shawnster]

25 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I just find it interesting how when a country makes accession to EU member state status, it literally “gives its power” to the EU— meaning, the country fully gives up quite a few rights that a sovereign nation normally has, and gives those up to the EU.

 

This is an interesting point worth discussing. 

 

Does the EU have more power than the UN? Is the EU stronger? More authoritative? More binding on individual members? Currently every country is a member of the UN yet we feel this membership is not "giving their power" to the UN. 

[Michał]

From my perspective I feel that EU has impact on my life in Poland. There are some nationalists who are against it but I like border free passage and access to public health care while traveling. 

[Brandon]

5 minutes ago, Shawnster said:

Is the EU stronger?

I’d say strong yes, because the power it has is binding on all of its member states. That’s a large reason why the UK left, because they wanted to reverse they previous act of having giving up sovereignty on some issues.

 

6 minutes ago, Shawnster said:

More binding on individual members?

Definitely. The EU courts and regulatory commission are absolute. The EU acts like a single country in many ways.

[Brandon]

1 minute ago, Michał said:

I like border free passage and access to public health care while traveling. 

That’s how I feel too. I’d love the right to travel to virtually any part of Europe and work there freely.

[DLJBSP]

22 minutes ago, Shawnster said:

Does the EU have more power than the UN? Is the EU stronger? More authoritative? More binding on individual members? Currently every country is a member of the UN yet we feel this membership is not "giving their power" to the UN. 

 

• More globally influential: the UN, because it is near-universal and central to diplomacy, legitimacy, humanitarian coordination, and peace/security.
• More legally authoritative over its own members in everyday governance: the EU.
• More binding on individuals and domestic law: overwhelmingly the EU.
• “Giving up power”: EU states delegate/coordinate some concrete governmental powers; UN members mostly undertake international obligations while retaining ordinary domestic governing authority.

  Question	EU	UN
  Who belongs?	27 states, by treaty choice	Nearly every sovereign state
  Can it make binding rules?	Yes, in treaty-authorized fields	Usually no; General Assembly mainly recommends
  Do rules bind individuals/businesses?	Often yes—EU regulations can apply directly; people can invoke certain EU rights in national courts	Normally no—UN obligations run between states
  Can it override conflicting national law?	EU-law primacy means national courts must generally disapply conflicting national rules in areas of EU competence	No comparable general supremacy over domestic law
  Enforcement	Commission, national authorities/courts, Court of Justice, possible financial penalties	Relies chiefly on states; Security Council enforcement is limited and can be vetoed

[Qapla]

As a side thought - if Canada becomes a member of the EU, could that strengthen the bond between the US and the UK since the UK left the EU? I know this is kind of a 'back door' way of keeping the UK and US joined at the hip.

 

Also, will it have any impact on King Charles III as the head of state for both Canada and the UK?

[Brandon]

I don’t think it would affect our form of govt (ceremonially a monarchy, but also a constitutional democracy/parliament). In fact majority of European countries are still technically monarchies and have their own king/queen, but they have little power over the 3 branches of government.

 

 

Edited 59 minutes ago by Brandon

[Brandon]

6 minutes ago, Qapla said:

could that strengthen the bond between the US and the UK

You know, that could certainly be possible.

[Michał]

Remind me what was it about with 10 kings getting power for 1 hour?

[Brandon]

3 minutes ago, Michał said:

Remind me what was it about with 10 kings getting power for 1 hour

To destroy the harlot BtG

[Qapla]

39 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I don’t think it would affect our form of govt (ceremonially a monarchy, but also a constitutional democracy/parliament). In fact majority of European countries are still technically monarchies and have their own king/queen, but they have little power over the 3 branches of government.

 

 

 

Come to think of it, if Canada does become part of the EU, in some official way, not just as a trade partner, it would still leave the UK, an actual European country, and Australia not part of the EU - all under the same monarch.

 

Edited 34 minutes ago by Qapla